Psychologists Against austerity

Laura McGrath & Vanessa Griffin

Background

Mainstream Psychology

Intrapsychic focus

Individual personal responsibility

Therapy to change 'dysfunctional' mental states or behaviours

Community Psychology – key ideas Individual in a social context Collective empowerment of communities Social justice

London Community Psychology Network Network of academic and applied psychologists (and students and professional doctorate trainees) in London interested in community psychology

Concern about deleterious effects of inequality -- increasingly recognised as an issue of social justice and public health

www.equalitytrust.org.ukWilkinson & Pickett, The Spirit Level

The links between psychological distress and social inequality

Economy and mental health

Lots of known links between the economy and mental health

“Class gradient” in diagnosed mental health problems (Rogers & Pilgrim, 2010).

Recovery from ‘schizophrenia’ better in times of higher employment (Warner, 2000).

Stuckler et al. (2009). 1970 to 2007 in 26 European countries: every 1% increase in unemployment corresponded to .79% rise in suicides.

Financial crisis, recession, and rising inequality all pose a potential problem for public mental health.

Mental health impacts of austerity Rise in anti-depressant prescriptions (Spence et al, 2014).

GPs have reported increased mental health problems.

Male suicides have increased in the UK (ONS, 2015). Suicide increases: Greece, Spain, Portugal, UK. No suicide increases: Germany & Iceland.

Same pattern in other health indicators.

(Karanikolos et al, 2013; McKee et al, 2012).

Psychologists against austerity Two aims:

Raising awareness amongst Psychologists

- Building networks locally and nationally: applied, academic and trainee psychologists.

- ‘Week of Action’ before the election – addressing all the main parties who advocated ‘austerity’ policies

Informing public debate

- Adding psychological perspectives, research and expertise to the debate in the political sphere.

- Briefing paper ‘The Psychological Impact of Austerity’.

Five ‘Austerity Ailments’ Five indicators of a ‘healthy’ society

Humiliation and Shame Agency

Fear and Distrust Security

Instability and Insecurity Connection

Isolation and Loneliness Meaning

Being Trapped Trust

Impacts

Launch at the House of Lords.

Media: The Guardian (article and letter); Vice; Hayes Radio; Mary O’Hara; New Internationalist; The Psychologist.

Briefing paper: MPs, Councillors, and London Assembly Members. Relevant charities (Sane, Children’s Society, Barnardos etc). Practising psychologists and academics.

Organisation links: New Economics Foundation, DPAC, Black Triangle, Alliance of Counsellors and Psychotherapists, Economic Justice.

Grown to 40 active members, 150+ on mailing list. Regional groups in Scotland and North West. Website (200-400 hits per day).

Austerity in the workplace

2012 study (17,000 participants) found 40% higher work stress during recession with 1 in 4 workers experiencing work related stress.

Austerity ailments can all be manifested in the workplace

Instability and insecurity is one of the austerity ailments most relevant to workplace stressJob insecurity is as detrimental to mental health as unemploymentJob insecurity leads to poor mental health outcomes independent of income or occupation

What can trade unions do?

Organising as part of trade union/collective action can be empowering and can promote 5 key indicators of a healthy society:

Agency, Security, Connection, Meaning & Trust

What can trade unions do to include the increasing proportion of workers who are employed on 'zero hours contracts' or other precarious arrangements?